More potential victims interviewed by Vandalia cops in ex-officer case

Vandalia police are interviewing additional potential alleged victims in the case of a former Phillipsburg officer released from jail after an arrest on suspicion of rape, according to Vandalia police Lt. Kurt Althouse.

Justin Sanderson, 32, was booked into jail July 6 by Vandalia police for allegedly raping two women at a Knights Inn hotel last month. He was released after the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office said further investigation is needed.

Additionally, the village of Phillipsburg will be reviewing its hiring practices after the Dayton Daily News and News Center 7 uncovered suspensions Sanderson received while employed at the Montgomery County Juvenile Court, including a case where he allegedly accessed pornographic materials on the job.

Jason Treherne, the Phillipsburg village attorney, said the village was not aware of Sanderson’s disciplinary history with the Montgomery County Juvenile Courts.

North of Clayton and west of the Dayton International Airport, Phillipsburg is a village of about 553 according to Census records.

As of Thursday, the village police department had only one employee — Chief Mark Wysong — listed as “current” on a roster of employees. Two patrol officers are on leave of absence, and a corporal will resign soon due to a full-time job elsewhere, Treherne said.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responds to incidents in Phillipsburg when officers are not on duty, Treherne said.